Step-mat for automobiles



J. A. COX.

SPRING CONTHOLLED'STEP MAT FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED IAN.2I. IQIII.

Patented Sept. 23, 1919.

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ATTORN EY Tm: ml IIMIIIII PLANImIrAIII coi. wAsIlINnTON. P: c.

ironic AJJOLPHUs cox, or BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT.

l ,sPmNG-CONTROLLED STEP-Mar non TQaZZ wlzlomimag/ concern,

' Ber-if, knjownthat LPJOHN, A omnes' COX, a citizenV of the United States, residing at Bridgepprt 00111111 Connecticut, have invented an Improvement'` Step-Matsfor Autoin Spring-Controlled mobiles, cation.`

This invention has for its object to provide a spring controlled step mat, especially adapted for use on the running boards oi" automobiles, which may be securely attached in place on the running board when in use and completely housed under the running board when not in use. It is of course essenof which'the following isa specifitial that a running board mat to be of apof the invention is concerned. I

preciable service must be protected from thev elements except when in use. In other words it must be so constructed that it may be conveniently placed in position for use and as easily protected from rain, snow and mud when not in use. Y

With these and other objects in view I have devised the novel spring controlled step mat which I will now describe referring to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, and using reference characters to indicate the several parts.

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view showing an automobile drawn up close to a curb, the step mat being housed under the running board;

Fig. 2 a slmilar view showing the step mat in the operative position;

`Fig. 3 a detail elevation on an enlarged scale corresponding with Fig. l;

Fig. 4 a section on the line 4-4 in Fig. 3, looking in the direction of thearrows;

Fig. 5 an elevation on an enlarged scale corresponding with Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 a section on the line 6-6 in Fig. 5, looking in the direction of the arrows, and

Fig. 7 is a section on a still larger scale on the line 7-7 in Fig. 6, looking in the direction of the arrows.

10 denotes the body of an automobile, 11 the door and l2 the ruiming board. The step mat, indicated by 13, is secured in a suitable carrier 14 which is adapted to slide, like a drawer, in a case 15, secured to the under side of the running board. The special details of construction of the carrier and case are unimportant so far as the principle have shown the inner sides of the case as provided with ribs 16 upon which the carrier slides, the mat v..OfiFaireldr-.State Ofd k yiaea'elth a.

i 'y 4W1.iSipecication' of Letters vIatezit i* n Patented Sept,` 23, 1919 projecting from'thel carrier andlyingr between the' ribs, in the housed, position. The

q face of the carrier, indicated by 17, is adapt- A edto close the `front of theA case and is pro-` i hand piece l8"for convenience 1n operation. Upon the inner side of the face is a catch 19 which' in the open position is adapted to engage the upraised edge of a plate 20 secured to the running board. 21 denotes a cable, the ends of which are attached to the end of the carrier opposite to the face, and the mid-length of which is c011- nected to a lug 22 on a spring roller 23 in the back of the case. This spring roller is like an ordinary curtain roller and is not thought to require description in detail. It is sufficient to say that its action is to wind the cable and to draw the carrier, and with it the mat, into the case. One side of the case is provided with an opening 24 which is closed by a plate 25. This plate is provided with an opening which is engaged by the angular hub 26 at one end of the roller. This construction makes the operation of assembling perfectly easy.

The operation will be readily understood from the drawing. To place the mat in operative position, the carrier is drawn outward, against the power of the roller spring, and turned over upon the running board, leaving the mat lying face upward, in which position it is secured by the engagement of catch 19 on the carrier with plate 2O on the running board. When the mat is not required for use, the catch is disengaged from the plate, the carrier is turned over outward and the roller spring is allowed to draw the carrier into the case, in which position it is securely retained by the roller spring.

Having thus described my invention I claim:

1. In combination, a mat, a carrier therefor having a catch, a case, a board, to -the under side of which the case is attached, and which is provided on its upper side with a plate having an up-raised edge adapted to be engaged by the catch, and spring controlled means for drawing the carrier into the case.

2. In combination, a mat, a carrier therefor, a case, adapted for attachment to a board, a spring roller in the case, and a cable attached tothe roller and to the carrier and adapted to be wound on the roller to draw the carrier into the case.

3. In combination, a mat, a carrier therefor, acase adapted for attachment to a board, a spring roller in the case having a lug, and a cable having its mid-length attached to the lug and its ends attached to the carrier, whereby the carrier when the cable is wound on the roller.

4. In combination, a mat, a carrier therefor, a case, adapted for attachment to a board and having in one side an opening, a plate covering the opening and itself having kan opening 7 n l n an angular hub engaging the opening 1n the Cppies Vthis patent may be obtained for live cent@ each, by addreseing the v washington, n. c.

is drawn into the case a spring roller in the case having;

plate, and a cableattaohed to the roller and to the carrier, whereby'the carrier is drawn into the case when the cable is wound on the roller.

5. In combination, a mat, a carrier therefor, a case having ribs on its inner side upon which the carrier slides, a spring roller in the case, and a cable connected to the carrier and to thes-pring roller whereby the carrier is drawn into the case.

In testimony whereof I affix my Signature.

OHN ADOLPHUS COX.V

Commissioner of lateuts, 

